Charles mingus

Sonny Fortune, who has died aged 79, was a busy and widely applauded saxophonist and composer on the New York jazz scene for half a century. Although a dedicated disciple of John Coltrane, he was equally adept at funk, R & B, Latin and other idioms. His principal instruments were the alto and soprano saxophones and the flute. Cornelius Lawrence Fortune was born in Philadelphia on May 19 1939, the son of a truck driver. He began teaching himself the saxophone in his teens and later studied at the Granoff School of Music. Coltrane, who had attended the same school, encouraged Fortune and recommended him to his former drummer, Elvin Jones, when he graduated. Fortune was playing in New York with... To continue reading this article Start your free trial of Premium Access all Premium articles Subscriber-only events Cancel any time Free for 30 days then only £2 per week Try Premium Access one Premium article per week Register for free … [Read more...] about Sonny Fortune, jazz saxophonist who played on about 70 albums with Miles Davis, George Benson, Dizzy Gillespie, Charles Mingus and others – obituary

Arriving at a small café in Kentish Town, Sons of Kemet’s leader, saxophonist and clarinet player Shabaka Hutchings, greets me with a huge smile. “Do you want to listen?” he asks, immediately passing me a new pair of expensive-looking headphones he’s just bought. Every textured note of a jazz composition filters into my ears with razor-sharp precision. I comment on the complexity of the sound, it not being dissimilar to the detailed, intricately layered music of his band’s Mercury-nominated album Your Queen is a Reptile, released earlier this year. For Hutchings, the sound may be complex but the process of making it was anything but. “It’s not a science, it’s not a complicated procedure,” Hutchings says, laughing. “You write music and you record it: you just do it. I trust in my ability to write really dope s*** and I will do that consistently for as long as I can.” His fellow band member, tuba … [Read more...] about Shabaka Hutchings is opening up the jazz conversation

PUBLISHED: 11:43 28 August 2018 | UPDATED: 11:44 28 August 2018 The Eddie Seales Big Band are set to return to Lowestoft. Picture: SUPPLIED BY MILESTONES JAZZ CLUB Archant One of the region’s finest big bands are tuning up their instruments for a long-awaited return to Lowestoft’s Hotel Victoria. The Eddie Seales Big Band will play the Milestones Jazz Club gig on Sunday, September 2 featuring 18 jazz musicians, being led by Eddie himself.Eddie founded the band 20 years ago and its repertoire reflects the rich history of big band jazz - classic arrangements from Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Stan Kenton and Charles Mingus to contemporary material by Pat Metheny and Gordon Goodwin and is performed with the attack that only a big band can muster. The band swings and grooves with both patience and power, featuring sharp ensemble work and great individual soloists like Clive Hitchcock and Guy Ludbrook.Since the band last performed a Milestones gig in 2005 there have been … [Read more...] about Big band to return to jazz club for night of classic music

Just like crafting a perfectly aged bourbon, a rich vintage red or a timeless jazz composition, the owners of Hockley's new jazz bar Peggy's Skylight have certainly taken their time creating their £200,000 labour of love. But after a false start (it was initially supposed to open in spring this year) the George Street venue is finally ready to open its doors just in time for the August Bank Holiday weekend. The old Coco Lounge building is now unrecognisable as the former r'n'b nightspot has been transformed into a 1920s oasis not dissimilar to London's own Ronnie Scott's - or Ronnie Notts if you will. After so much anticipation have a look below to see what you can expect from the hotly anticipated opening weekend - kicking off with a VIP evening tonight (August 24). We've heard rumours of old Theatre Royal seats, a grand piano and of course, Peggy's very own skylight... just what is the venue going to look like? Transforming the club proved to be quite the mammoth task with three … [Read more...] about What to expect from the opening weekend of Hockley’s newest bar

prev next prev next (ANSAmed) - TUNIS, JULY 13 - The 13th edition of the Tabarka Jazz Festival kicks off on July 20-28 with a high-profile program. The festival, held at a coastal city not far from the Algerian border, hosted in the 1970s iconic musicians including Miles Davis, Keith Jarrett, Dizzy Gillespie, Léo Ferré, Miriam Makeba, Charles Mingus. This edition will be held at the Theater of the Sea, recently inaugurated by the Tunisian culture ministry, Mohamed Zine El Abidine, with jazz concerts starring renowned international musicians. The event is starting with Cameroon's Etienne Mbappe and the Prophets and Kid Creole and the Coconuts. Then on Saturday the 21st the Incognito, followed on the 22nd by Al Mc'Kay Ft Earth Wind & Fire Experience, Malina Moye on the 24th, Ayo n the 25th, El Dey by Tunisian pianist Mohamed Ali Kammoun on the 27th and US singer and bass player Nik West will close on the 28th. She is the founder of Queen of Strings, and … [Read more...] about Music: Tunisia, Tabarka Jazz Festival kicks off